Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-06-10
HOW 1T HAPPENED.

SlCdh, VI can, "Cllb
Whir-r-r, went the wind through it,
Tearing and straining at the cording
and tossing the great steamer about as il
it were toy, the wind caught at the
masts and made them groan and culver,
then, in sheer wantonness, gathered a
mighty wave and sent it tearing, a white
sheet of foam, clear across the deck
And the passengers, most of them, who
were huddled together in the cabin,
shivered and exchanged glances of COM
miseration, not devoid, in some cases,
of very human fear.
Whir.r-r went the wind, and caught,
on its way, a jaunty, red, knitted cap,
twirled it aloft in derisiOn, then left il
bobbing desolately about at the mercy of
the waters and prepared to give atten-
ton to further dishevelment of the
wavy, dark head leaning over the bull
warks. There was dismayed cry and
two hands grasped wildly at the empty
air, returning to hold to the small
9hapely head, lest it should follow.
"That's pity! 1t was such pretty
hat!" said masculine voice.
eyes, wasn't it?" in dolorous, wind
tossed quaver.
Then they looked at each other a mo-
ment in silence, and then laughed, soft
ly, heartily, with youths gay gladness.
He spoke first, quickly and positively:
"Forgive me for speaking to you, but
it was such chance. I've wanted to
know you all along. My name is Neil
Blake, and live in Boston. May / talk
to you? Do you mind?"
"My name is Eugenie Grant, and
live in Buffalo. | think do not mind"
And SO they leaned together, clinging
to the bulwa-ks, and watched the bob
bing cap till it was lost to view; then
she pulled her waterproof hood over her
curls, and they sat down in the shelter
of the wheel l-bouse and talked together
in youthful earnestness.
Four days out from Liverpool. For
four days he had been victim to the
charms of the young woman who then
sat composedly in a dripping waterproof
beside him. He had seen her as she
came on board, holding her gray skirts
daintily about her, while lace.edged
petticoats peeped from beneath. He
thought he had never seen prettier
figure than that outlined by the gray
suit, nor softer, lovelier eyes than the
ones that glanced at him, and looked
away-to glance again. He had wanted
so much to know her, but she seemed
shy; true, she had peeped at him from
behind the floral tower in the centre of
the table; she had looked at him and
laughed when, the first rough day, he
supported his next neighbor in gasping
misery from the table, but he had found
no chance to speak to her. She had be-
come prettier upon close inspection
than he had at first thought, and most
distractingly so in the ill-fated red cap,
from under which her eyes had shone
like twin, laughing stars.
So you may be sure that he made the
most OF the episode and the cap and,
leaning on one elbow, talked to her most
earnestly and confidingly; he should
give her no chance to escape-not, in
deed, that she showed any inclination to
desert her damp rope coil for the gor-
geous upholstery of the saloon. She
seemed very contented, crossing her
small feet in their rubber boots and set
thing herself comfortably.
II did not take them long to grow con-
fidential, and before they went in to
dinner she had the pleasing assurance
that he was the only child Of father
who dealt in railroads-well perhaps not
''dealt" but something as sweeping ard
enviable, Eugene was sure. And he
had found out that she was Vassar
girl, that she really was near-sighted, +,
though you would not believe it, and
that "mamma" was always desperately
sick on the water. 1t is doubtful if the
last fact produced the regret it naturally
should, and, as the days went by, il
seemed to him positive blessing that
"mamma" was safely slowed away in
invisibility.
Perhaps it was just as well, for other-
wise they might not have enjoyed the
lovely moonlight nights that followed
the stormy days; those nights when to
think of sleep was saerilege, when the
! whole world seemed flooded with moon
beams, soft, yellow mOonbeams; wher
the stately ship glided on, leaving be-
/ hind path of shining silver, of ripple:
that blinked and blinked in an ever.
widening road that led straight into
heaven, Eugene said, straight to the
| shining stars at the distant horizon